Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning went to Coors Field on April 29 to cheer on his buddy, Todd Helton, when the Colorado Rockies went up against the New York Mets.

The home team lost, despite Helton’s 8th inning grand slam, but The Denver Hospice wound up the winner — all because Jennifer Alvarado Geller and her husband, Jeff, were at the game, too.

And this is where it gets exciting.

The quarterback was sitting near them, so during a break in the action they approached and introduced themselves. The Gellers are co-chairs of the hospice’s signature fundraiser, The Mask Project, and so of course they asked if he’d be willing to participate.

Manning said yes, so Jennifer whipped out her cellphone and called major gifts officer Keri Christiansen and asked if she could hustle down to the ballpark with a mask for Manning to sign.

The very next day, Denver artist Jessica Stockmyer was commissioned to do the artwork on Manning’s mask, which features a bronco horse and team colors of blue and orange. The mask will go on display Saturday (May 5) at Cherry Creek Shopping Center’s center court.

Online bids on it have already begun, and as of 2 p.m. today (May 4), the high entry is $610. That tops the amounts offered for two other popular quarterbacks, Tim Tebow ($510) and John Elway ($500).

The Mask Project is conducted every other year and involves artists, celebrities, sports figures, chefs, political, community and national leaders decorating clay-fired masks that are exhibited at Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Anyone who’d like to buy one of the 500 masks created for 2012 can place online bids, this year through May 13.

Bids also can be placed at the May 12 Club Mask, a party that runs from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Tickets and details are available online